Especially in the dead of winter when Jack Frost and Mother Nature conspire to give you the chills, a cozy night in front of the fire is just what the doctor ordered. While a fireplace adds charm, comfort, and a quaint gathering spot to your home, it must be safe.
Any damage, like cracks in your fireplace, can be dangerous, even fatal. Cracks create a fire hazard and heat that can damage your structure. Worse yet, even the most minor fissure can cause toxic gases like carbon monoxide to enter your home, sickening your family and potentially leading to death.
If you notice cracks, stop using the fireplace immediately, do not attempt DIY repairs, and contact an expert for guidance.
Are Fireplace Cracks Connected to Foundation Damage?
Cracks in your fireplace may be indirectly related to foundation issues. Gas and wood-burning fireplaces require chimneys for safety. Damage like cracks and unevenness due to unstable underlying soil can compromise the safety and structural integrity of the chimney. The chimney might also begin separating from the rest of your home, leaning away from it and potentially collapsing.
A chimney is often built on a separate foundation from the rest of the structure, but it is still susceptible to foundation settlement and its effects. Other areas can also fall victim to the same issues.
What to Do Next
In this post, we answered your question about the danger of cracks in your fireplace. Any crack or damage should be taken seriously and repaired as soon as possible.
There’s a lot more to know about foundation problems, so check back for more informative articles.
If your home needs foundation repair services, you can rely on Baker’s Waterproofing for a thorough and free inspection, as well as lasting solutions tailored to your home’s unique needs. Click the button below to get started!
Holly is a Content Writer for Groundworks who has written and edited web content for the foundation services industry for almost 10 years. With a background in journalism, her passion for the written word runs deep. Holly lives in Columbus, OH, with her husband. Along with educating homeowners, she also has a big heart for the Big Apple.
I can't say enough good things about Bakers Waterproofing. Years ago they did waterproofing for me; this time I had them back for…
I can't say enough good things about Bakers Waterproofing. Years ago they did waterproofing for me; this time I had them back for foundation repairs. It was a positive experience and quality job from beginning to end. Marshall, who came out to assess the situation and give me an estimate, was so courteous, knowledgeable and thorough. I had many questions and he was patient as he clearly explained and illustrated everything I asked about. I felt good about the price after some discounts. I was even more impressed when I got a call the next day, which was a Saturday, to schedule the job. I did have a bit of a wait, but my situation wasn't urgent and I thought the wait was reasonable for the time of year and volume of work they do.
But I was really impressed with Jim and Pat Clark who came out to do the work. I had a confirmation call two days before, and Jim and Pat called when they were on their way so I'd know when to expect them. They were so friendly, professional and respectful and their work ethic was amazing. They went above and beyond to make sure all issues were addressed by their quality work. It's an old house so they ran into a couple of issues that they handled without complaining it getting upset. They ended up having to stay many hours past the time they expected to be finished. It was clear that they take pride in their work and weren't about to leave until everything was completed according to their obviously high standards.
Jim and his brother Pat were a pleasure to have working here for two days. They're the best among many crews I've had work at the house over the years. Dedicated employees who do quality work make all the difference. They are a true asset and the foundation of Bakers' excellent reputation. I would hire Bakers Waterproofing again without a second thought.
Chris Trevitz made his way for our prepaid annual inspection today. His time was punctual and was very friendly. Any questions I had were…
Chris Trevitz made his way for our prepaid annual inspection today. His time was punctual and was very friendly. Any questions I had were answered and he provided me with plenty of additional information in future jobs we can seek out with Bakers to help our house be more efficient.
We used Baker's Waterproofing to inspect and install water & moisture control systems. They were very professional from our initial meeting …
We used Baker's Waterproofing to inspect and install water & moisture control systems. They were very professional from our initial meeting to the finishing of the project. They were very through and responsive. They did a wonderful job. The team of R. Rupp, D. Bowman, B. Rose and Billy R. had this job finished up early. Being a dental office, we were also very impressed with how respectful the team was to our office and patients.Thank you all again!Everyone at Main Street Dental PLLC
Paul Young, Henery Moralas & Zack Kratzer are hard working, friendly, professional. These 3 guys were awesome at answering all my questions….
Paul Young, Henery Moralas & Zack Kratzer are hard working, friendly, professional. These 3 guys were awesome at answering all my questions. They went above and beyond. Thank you guys so much. Eric who came out to give me my estimate was very friendly and professional. I would highly recommend Bakers.
Lukos Selleck, Steven Selleck, & Dalton Bardole did a great job on the crawl spaces. Very professional and made sure that any questions…
Lukos Selleck, Steven Selleck, & Dalton Bardole did a great job on the crawl spaces. Very professional and made sure that any questions that I had were answer. Clean up was good
Had my basement waterproofed by Chris Snyder and Evan Fry. I’m very happy with the work and they were great people. They got it done sooner …
Had my basement waterproofed by Chris Snyder and Evan Fry. I’m very happy with the work and they were great people. They got it done sooner than expected. They also kept my house clean even though the work was very dirty. 10/10
Wendell was absolutely wonderful! Our house is on a slab grad concrete pad, there’s no foundation or basement. We had water come in the…
Wendell was absolutely wonderful! Our house is on a slab grad concrete pad, there’s no foundation or basement. We had water come in the ground floor and even though the setup of our house is a special exception, Wendell spent the entire inspection checking out every element of the downstairs to see what recommendations could be made or solutions found. We will be using Bakers for any future needs and recommending them to friends, family and other professionals!
I received a courtesy call 45 minutes before they arrive. Eric Davis, Kyler Crawford and Darvon Durham worked efficiently and very clean as …
I received a courtesy call 45 minutes before they arrive. Eric Davis, Kyler Crawford and Darvon Durham worked efficiently and very clean as the job went along and they were very courteous. They answered all my questions and no one ran any power tools while I was talking. The finish work looked perfect and final finish work walk trough was perfect as well. Now all I need is the rain to put the final stamp of approval which I know I’ll be satisfied as well. Bill Paul
Intellijacks were installed in crawlspace and insulation was added to warm the floors of my condo.Austin Torok and Darrien Bowman showed up …
Intellijacks were installed in crawlspace and insulation was added to warm the floors of my condo.Austin Torok and Darrien Bowman showed up on time, answered my questions, did job neatly and efficiently. They let the area clean and really seemed to care that the work was done right.
Austin Torok and Darrien Bowman came out to encapsulate the crawlspace of my house. They did a great job. Showed up on time and installed…
Austin Torok and Darrien Bowman came out to encapsulate the crawlspace of my house. They did a great job. Showed up on time and installed quickly. The finished product is just what I imagined. They even finished early. Highly recommend!
Michael s and pat b were at the house today to stabilize our front basement wall. Extremely knowledgeable and efficient! Great job and…
Michael s and pat b were at the house today to stabilize our front basement wall. Extremely knowledgeable and efficient! Great job and would definitely recommend!
John Beck came to evaluate our basement problem today. He was thorough, professional, and a pleasure to talk to. He came up with a plan to…
John Beck came to evaluate our basement problem today. He was thorough, professional, and a pleasure to talk to. He came up with a plan to attempt to fix the problem, one that will likely be cheaper and faster that what we initially thought. Could not be happier with the consultation we had today. If we ever need their services again, we will not hesitate to call them.
Had a French drain put in in my basement. The crew, (***** ** ******* ** **** *) did a clean and efficient job. They ran into some…
Had a French drain put in in my basement. The crew, (***** ** ******* ** **** *) did a clean and efficient job. They ran into some unexpected difficulties with the foundation depth, and also some discrepancies with what the estimator promised, but dealt with them and did not charge anything additional.
Great experience! Robbie, Norman, and Tysenal (not sure of spelling) showed up on time, did a great job, and left everything clean and…
Great experience! Robbie, Norman, and Tysenal (not sure of spelling) showed up on time, did a great job, and left everything clean and perfect. Highly recommend.
Brandon,Kenny, and **** did a great job. They came in November of 2021. We have had several severe storms and through it all no water came…
Brandon,Kenny, and **** did a great job. They came in November of 2021. We have had several severe storms and through it all no water came into my basement. It is good not to have to use the shop vac anymore, and not to have to throw things out do to water damage.
Tyree and Hayden did an excellent job regarding the concrete repair we had requested. They were very professional and efficient in…
Tyree and Hayden did an excellent job regarding the concrete repair we had requested. They were very professional and efficient in performing the needed repair. Very happy with the results!
Chris, Ryan , and Even were very professional and knowledgeable. Walked me though process and went so far as tell the supervisor that I did …
Chris, Ryan , and Even were very professional and knowledgeable. Walked me though process and went so far as tell the supervisor that I did not need what was scheduled and just need a sump pump. This saved me a-lot of money.
John J. and his crew from Philadelphia performed our work here in Cranberry Twp., PA. John, Marlen, Mike and Jim worked non-stop, were…
John J. and his crew from Philadelphia performed our work here in Cranberry Twp., PA. John, Marlen, Mike and Jim worked non-stop, were very concerned about the dirt/debris and cleaned up immaculately when finished. They were professional and polite. I’d highly recommend them !